Three coal-fired units at the Alma Station (at center) will be shut down under terms of an EPA settlement. (Photo via USGS)

© 2012 E&E Publishing, LLC
Reprinted with permission

By Jeremy P. Jacobs

A Wisconsin utility will spend roughly $150 million on installing new air emissions control technology, permanently retire three coal-fired units and invest another $5 million in environmental improvement projects near the plants under a legal settlement U.S. EPA announced Friday.

The Dairyland Power Cooperative will also pay a $950,000 civil penalty, EPA and the Department of Justice said.

The agency emphasized that the settlement, which affects the utility’s three largest units, will lead to significant health gains through reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. →